Nope.
Nope.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
I have never added a strap button to a mandolin that lacked one (including a 1924 Gibson A snakehead) or removed a strap button from a mandolin that had one.
1924 Gibson A Snakehead
2005 National RM-1
2007 Hester A5
2009 Passernig A5
2015 Black A2-z
2010 Black GBOM
2017 Poe Scout
2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
2018 Vessel TM5
2019 Hogan F5
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
Doesn't bother me a bit. But to each his or her own. As the NH license plate says, "Live Free And Play."
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Nay, nay! Putting one of those things on alters the originality, and it's something that's a deal breaker for me every time. We're only caretakers of these old instruments, and there's some responsibility that goes with that stewardship. Besides, the repair to fill the hole left from the strap button screw that somebody just couldn't live without usually looks pretty tacky....no disrespect intended to the luthier community.
Sure, i get that it's property and there are rights that go with that. But again, ownership is only temporary.
I mostly use a chair , playing sitting down.
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
How about if the strap button was on the peghead above the tuners? The only interference would be with that Snark everybody talks about. it would balance better too.
Having the strap interfering with the tuners is a pain, but I do it on some. It is soooo hard to tune the mangos, you have to do something.
Not all the clams are at the beach
Arrow Manouche
Arrow Jazzbo
Arrow G
Clark 2 point
Gibson F5L
Gibson A-4
Ratliff CountryBoy A
When I bought my A5 from Michael Heiden, he asked me if I wanted a strap button installed. I said yes.
I own an A-style Smart Mandola, purchased directly from Larry (through TME). It has a strap button, which was done by Larry, himself.
I recently bought a rarely-seen-out-in-the-wild Arrow GBOM. The strap button is right on the back of the heel cap (like a Gibson ES335), which I would normally would cringe over, but it appears that Paul Lestock installed that button during the build. Now who am I to second-guess Paul? It actually makes it more comfortable to play too.
I think it all depends on who does the installation. It is an instrument, after all, and they are meant to be played.
"your posts ... very VERY opinionated ...basing your opinion/recommendations ... pot calling ...kettle... black...sarcasm...comment ...unwarranted...unnecessary...."
I said in an earlier post that I’ve passed on a few, but I’ve also bought a few. The pictures are of an A5G. I tried to use the strap button, but the balance wasn’t right for me. I ended up removing it. It was installed off center and looks like the screw was over tightened causing an indentation and chipping. Maybe some felt would have helped. It is what it is and it doesn’t bother me too much because it has other cosmetic issues. In the end I’m glad I didn’t pass on it.
I'm new to mando, with over 5 decades on guitars. I tried tying my strap at the neck/body joint and it was OK but maybe not perfect, so I tried tying it at the headstock and HATED it. It puts my mando in the wrong place for playing. I went back to the original and with some minor adjustments, it's perfect, comfortable, and very playable.
Here's how I did it, on my priceless Saga AM10 kit (with countless mistakes but still sounds good & fun to play.) I don't know whether it's work on yours. You might want to use a string rather than the leather strap to tie around the neck/body joint.
Frankly, it works better than I'd expect a button to work, because there's no tendency for the mando to roll forward, top away from me, as there would with a button on the bottom of the heel.
I really don't have a strong opinion on this one way or the other, but I've owned 2 mandolins that came with strap buttons already installed, and I liked them just fine. I didn't find find that the button got in the way or felt uncomfortable, although I don't play that high on the neck a lot. I did like the way the mandolin hung with the strap button and the ease of use. I currently use the leather cord under the fingerboard extension method on my Weber Absaroka A-style, and that works great as well. I have noticed that a number of my favorite mandolinists who play A-style mandolin/octaves use strap buttons, including Tim O'Brien, Joe K Walsh, Eva Holbrook ( aka Lady Moon), Sara Jarosz (see her Mandolin Mondays video), and Sierra Hull (Weber D hole octave).
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
Never, not for any reason, guitar or mandolin.
Wondering what the OP has to say about all this. Haven't heard. Has a decision been made yet?
Because left unattended, threads develop lives of their own and keep going ... and going ... and going ...
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Olaf
Hmmm. Interesting. I have to say, you're right. That issue hasn't been addressed, specifically. The closest was Post #7:
which does mention the heel being broken, but not split, and doesn't specify the age of the wood as a factor. There have been some posts advising drilling a pilot hole to avoid damage, but again, not bringing in the age. Perhaps that's seen as a given?
Thanks for ringing in. It helps when threads get some guidance. Left on our own ... hoo boy ...
PS: After further rumination, it occurred to me that most posts here, positive and negative regarding possible damage to the instrument, have been in the nature of suggesting alternatives to this operation - be they cautioning against doing it, or doing something else altogether. If you are dead set on doing this, please take this input into consideration, in the spirit in which it has been given.
Good luck, whatever you do.
Last edited by journeybear; May-02-2022 at 12:08pm. Reason: further ruminations
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
It might or might not work. I'd try a string or thin leather strap where my strap is tied, and tie the strap to that. I think there's enough lip on the OP's mando for this to work, but maybe not.
It would be nice to see a picture from the side or at an angle. I can't find good side angle shots on the web.
Watching Jethro Burns during his long partnership with Homer Haynes ,,
he didn't need a strap at all..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
Some folks physical size will allow playing without a strap, others won't. Kind of like hand size and what neck fits your hand.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
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